The National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) was founded in 1899 and has a membership of 2500 amateur theatre groups and 3000 individual enthusiasts throughout the UK, staging musicals, operas, plays, concerts and pantomimes in a wide variety of performing venues, ranging from the country’s leading professional theatres to village halls. NODA is divided into eleven regions, each headed by a regional councillor who sits on the national council (the ruling body of the Association), supported by a network of regional representatives and offi cers. These 190 volunteers are the vital link to the grass roots of the Association, the amateur theatre groups themselves. The Association is administered from its Headquarters in Peterborough, with a knowledgeable and friendly staff able to deal with virtually any enquiry relating to amateur theatre. There is a broad spectrum of ages involved in amateur theatre nationwide, from a burgeoning number of youth groups to adult companies which meet the needs of all levels of both performers, whether dramatic or musical, and enthusiasts involved backstage, front of house or in administration. Each production created is a genuine community event.

NODA AIMS:

To give a shared voice to the amateur theatre sector

To help amateur societies and individuals achieve the highest standards of best practice and performance

To provide leadership and advice to enable amateur theatre to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:

Benefits of membership include access to NODA’s advice service at national and regional level, access to the members’ area of the NODA website, representation to government, funding agencies, rightsholders and the media, and access to conferences, workshops and seminars to help share information on best practice. NODA also holds an annual residential Summer School (with bursaries available) offering training from professional tutors in acting, music directing, musical theatre, stage management and other courses for performers, directors and technicians. It publishes regular regional magazines and its quarterly NODA Theatre Business, and holds annual national and regional Programme and Poster competitions to encourage the highest standards in design. The NODA Library and Meeting Room provides access to a comprehensive research archive of scores, libretti and reference books, as well as an attractive room for meetings.

NODA’s trading arm, NODA Limited, acts as a mechanism for raising additional funds for the Association. Its publishing department, NODA Pantomimes, offers over 100 entertaining scripts by such popular authors as Leonard Caddy, Peter Denyer, Stephen Duckham, Ron Hall, Mark Llewellin, Peter Long & Keith Rawnsley, Robert Marlowe, John Morley and David Swan, and other publications including an exciting musical The Slipper and the Rose, and practical guides for performers and directors. It also offers Long Service Awards, and discounts on playscripts, libretti and scores, theatre books from the catalogue of A & C Black, make-up from Charles H. Fox, and telephone bills through Class Systems by up to 50% below the BT standard rate (with 5% of all call charges donated to NODA).